Dept of Agriculture confirms bird flu outbreak in 2 more areas

The department says both farms have been quarantined no movement of chicken or chicken products are permitted on or off the farms.

JOHANNESBURG – The Agriculture Ministry has confirmed that the H5N8 outbreak, also known as bird flu, has spread to two more areas, one in Germiston, Gauteng, and the other in the Kinross area, Mpumalanga.

The department says that both farms have been quarantined and that no movement of chicken or chicken products are permitted on or off the farms.

It says that through a registration process previously put in place, the department could trace where chickens had been sold and could be recalled.

This brings the total number of farms affected by bird flu in South Africa to four.

Spokesperson Bomikazi Molapo says that the culling of chickens is underway at both farms.

“The farm in Gauteng has a much higher number. We were talking about it. There are over 100,000 chickens on that farm. The one in Mpumalanga has about 7,000. People need to ensure they put the right bio security measures in place.”

Last month, Agriculture Minister Senzeni Zokwana minister stressed that the current strain in South Africa is not a threat to humans and all meat currently on shelves is safe for consumption.